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Legal pot no threat to Sault clinic

The two skinny tall bottles are oils. Patients take the first one during the day; it doesn’t have THC, the active ingredient of marijuana, but maintains relief from pain. The second one is for nighttime and does contain THC. A small amount of these is taken in place of smoking a medicinal cigarette. Other bottles contain medical marijuana in various presentations. In foreground, ingredients are already ground in one and the other is full buds.

With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise of legalizing marijuana by July 2018, plans are underway to establish a retail cannabis store in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Ministry of Finance and LCBO released a list on Nov. 3 of the first 14 municipalities in Ontario that will become home to a stand-alone cannabis store, and the Sault was included on the list.

The city’s Chief Administrative Officer Al Horsman said “The Sault was selected in accordance with the province’s safe and sensible approach primarily for its geographic location between Sudbury and Thunder Bay.”

Exactly what work the city will need to do with the province to pave the way to establishing a cannabis store is still in the preliminary stages.

“The City of Sault Ste. Marie, however, will provide input to the Government of Ontario and the LCBO to assist with the creation of a safe and sensible framework to govern the lawful use and retail distribution of non-medical cannabis as a carefully controlled substance,” Horsman said.

Horsman and Mayor Christian Provenzano are leading the co-ordination efforts with the province, but Horsman said several departments and agencies are involved as well, including Algoma Public Health, Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, and the City Clerks department.

The city does anticipate having some specific conversations with the province about the new legislation.

“There certainly is a consideration of a revenue sharing situation with the province as there may be costs incurred by the municipality,” said Horsman.

“Additionally, no consideration or special circumstances have been fully considered on the fact that Sault Ste. Marie is a border town.”

Horsman said no potential sites have been identified yet, but they would have to meet the guidelines and processes established by the province for storefronts, which “center on protecting youth by ensuring stores are not in close proximity to schools and other vulnerable areas.”

Once the city and province agree on a potential site, the LCBO will post public notices to let the public know the plan and invite input, including questions and concerns.

“As part of this process, the LCBO will provide information to the public that outlines the store’s operations and how local impacts would be mitigated,” said Horsman. He was unsure how long the LCBO would accept input.

Research into potential sites is expected to begin early in the new year, with Horsman anticipating a decision in March.

That would leave only four months for any required construction to have the store open by July 2018.

Although Horsman admits the government still needs to address that “a number of questions and challenges”, when it comes to the establishment of a retail cannabis store in the Sault, it will not be the first store in the city with the goal of helping residents obtain marijuana.

Bodystream Medical Marijuana Services, a chain of clinics that helps clients obtain medical marijuana across Ontario, has a location on Elgin Street, though it doesn’t distribute the product.

“We are an OHIP clinic,” local Bodystream medical administrator Lorraine said. “What we do is pair patients with doctors with the intent of obtaining a prescription for medical marijuana.” She added that the clinic is fully recognized by Health Canada.

Though some might opt to purchase recreational cannabis once the Sault’s retail storefront is established next summer, Lorraine doesn’t anticipate many of Bodystream’s patients will go that route.

“The guidance and support of our team and doctors is important to our patients and they will continue to come to us,” she said.

Lorraine explained the process followed by those who seek help from Bodystream.

“Patients are required to fill out intake forms and we also need medical files in regards to whatever the ailment is that brings the patient in to us,” she said.

“Documents are then reviewed and if all criteria are met we then contact them for an appointment. Patients then come and sit down with a doctor via OTN (an internet-sourced video conference) with one of our doctors. They are treated the same as anyone in any doctor’s office and we are strictly a Medical Clinic.

Patients then meet with a consultant, who helps them register with a licensed producer where they will order their medication.”

Because of the wide variety of ailments medical marijuana can be used to treat, Lorraine said the clinic sees clients of all ages.

“Edible oils can be used in place of smoking the dry product, making it quite safe for consumption in all ages with doctors’ guidance. I can share with you though that a higher number of our patients are seniors and they absolutely make my day!”

Lorraine hopes with more education, the stigma surrounding medical marijuana, including the services offered by Bodystream, will start to fade.

“My training tells me that marijuana is safe and effective for a huge list of diagnoses,” she said.

“Many patients come to us in need of getting off narcotics that are damaging their bodies horribly. As you know we have a narcotic crisis in this city and I firmly believe that medical marijuana can play a part in helping those seeking help in that area. We have many success stories right here in the Sault location.”

Another local source for medical marijuana, Temple Medicinal, did not respond to Sault This Week’s requests for an interview.